Project Manager

Intelligence and National Security Alliance; Manteno (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Intelligence and National Security Alliance is seeking an ESS Project Manager to lead end-to-end energy storage system projects, coordinating across sales, engineering, supply chain, and operations to meet schedule, budget, and technical requirements.

The role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration with U.S. and international production and logistics partners, risk management, and proactive stakeholder communication to ensure successful project energization and commissioning.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Energy Systems, Project Management, or related field.
• 2–5 years of project or program management experience in renewable energy or energy storage is preferred.
• Experience with ESS/BESS, grid-scale ESS architecture, and interconnection standards is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage full project lifecycle from pre-sales through contract negotiation, procurement, manufacturing, logistics, commissioning, and post-sales service.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for internal stakeholders and external clients during project execution.
• Develop and maintain detailed schedules, resource plans, risk registers, and budgets; drive on-time milestone delivery.

Skills

Project Management

Communication

Team Leadership

Problem Solving

Interpersonal

Travel

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Energy Systems, Project Management, or related field

Tools

MS Project

Smartsheet

Primavera

Job description

Position Summary

The ESS Project Manager will lead the end-to-end execution of utility-scale and commercial energy storage system projects. This role requires strong coordination across cross-functional teams to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and meet contractual and technical requirements. The ideal candidate has a deep understanding of ESS technologies and project lifecycles, with experience managing international production and logistics workflows.

Key Responsibilities

Project Lifecycle Management

• Lead and manage full project lifecycle from pre-sales support through contract negotiation, procurement, manufacturing, logistics, commissioning, and post-sales service.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for internal stakeholders and external clients throughout the project execution phase.

Planning and Execution

• Develop and maintain detailed project schedules, resource plans, risk registers, and budgets.
• Drive on-time delivery of milestones by coordinating with sales, engineering, supply chain, and operations teams.

Cross-functional Coordination

• Facilitate collaboration between U.S.-based teams and overseas production facilities to ensure alignment on build schedules and delivery timelines.
• Support U.S. legal, sales, engineering, and finance teams in contract development, review, and execution.

ESS Pipeline and Production Alignment

• Collect and regularly update the U.S. ESS project pipeline in collaboration with the U.S. sales team.
• Align ESS product demand forecasts with overseas manufacturing capacity and shipping schedules.

Logistics and Supply Chain Management

• Coordinate logistics activities to meet customer delivery expectations and contractual commitments.
• Build and manage relationships with third-party logistics (3PL) providers and freight partners.

Commissioning and Site Support

• Coordinate with commissioning and field services teams to ensure seamless handover from factory to field, supporting project energization and system validation.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues encountered during commissioning with support from engineering and QA teams.

Stakeholder Communication and Reporting

• Provide transparent project updates to internal and external stakeholders through dashboards, reports, and regular project meetings.
• Identify and communicate risks, opportunities, and changes in project scope, timeline, or cost.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Energy Systems, Project Management, or a related technical field.
• 2–5 years of experience in project or program management, preferably in the renewable energy or energy storage industry.

Industry Knowledge

• Familiarity with battery energy storage systems (BESS), grid-scale ESS architecture, UL certifications, domestic content requirements, and applicable interconnection/utility standards.

Skills and Competencies

• Project Management: Strong organizational and execution skills with experience using tools like MS Project, Smartsheet, or Primavera.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills; Mandarin/English bilingual proficiency strongly preferred.
• Team Leadership: Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Problem Solving: Ability to think critically and proactively address project risks and issues.
• Interpersonal: Strong interpersonal skills with a customer-focused mindset.
• Travel: Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as project needs dictate.

Preferred Qualifications

• PMP or equivalent project management certification.
• Experience working with international suppliers or manufacturing partners, particularly in Asia.
• Experience supporting EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) or turnkey project delivery in the renewable sector.
• Knowledge of energy storage software platforms, SCADA integration, and energy market applications.